APPLICATION OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL PRACTICE

Abstract

The article examines the legal aspects of applying blockchain technologies in the field of legal application and public administration. The concept and technical characteristics of distributed ledger technology (DLT) as the basis of blockchain are analyzed and its legal significance for ensuring immutability, transparency and verifiability of legally significant data is determined. The practice of applying blockchain technologies in the system of state registers of Ukraine is examined, in particular the implementation of distributed ledger technology in the State Register of Real Property Rights and in the electronic auction system ProZorro.Sales, as well as the pilot project of the Central Election Commission regarding the use of blockchain for recording electronic voting results. The legal nature of smart contracts as a type of agreements that are automatically executed upon the occurrence of specified conditions is considered, and their relationship with the institution of contract in civil law in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code of Ukraine of January 16, 2003, is determined. The Law of Ukraine "On Virtual Assets" of February 17, 2022 (signed by the President on March 15, 2022), is analyzed and its significance for the legalization of blockchain infrastructure in Ukraine is determined. The necessity of forming a comprehensive legal framework for the application of blockchain technologies in legal practice is substantiated, including the normative definition of the legal status of blockchain records, the procedure for their use as evidence in court proceedings, the legal qualification of smart contracts as a type of agreement and liability for errors in their program code, taking into account the potential of blockchain for enhancing transparency and trust in state institutions.